The Art of Thank You Cards

Growing up my mother, the saint that she is, taught me to send thank you cards for my birthday presents. I wasn't always consistant with it but I did try. As I grew older I realized that not very many people seemed to do it. And now it appears to be a lost art form in many homes.

After Nickel and I got married my mother kindly suggested I send out my thank you cards promptly so I wouldn't forget. I will admit that the first half did infact go out promptly. The other half...well, lets just say I hope they were not terribly offended when they didn't get one.

I was a little better about my cards when Peanut and Butter were born. And when Peanut was old enough to write "THANK YOU" I too taught my daughter the Art of Thank You cards. She, like her mother, is not always consistant, but she tries.

One year when Peanut was very young we went to the farm to visit Nickel's grandmother. I handed over a card to Grandma who asked if it was Mother's Day card, as it was near that season, but I said no, it's a thank you card from me and Peanut. She confided in me that my sister-in-law and I were the only ones who ever sent her thank you cards. This made me sad. My sister-in-law and I were both fairly new to the family, she had married in just a year before I did. Did no one ever bother to tell her thank you before that? I couldn't believe it. But then again, Grandma had all grandsons and we were the first granddaughters to come along, so maybe I do believe it.

Thank you cards take less than five minutes of my time. I often find myself in Hallmark or in the stationary isle in Walmart admiring the different cards. Mostly I just buy the blank ones with pretty front covers because they can be used for so many purposes. They're perfect for a quick note to say thank you for a recent gift, you were on my mind, or I love you. And since I have two or three boxes at any given time I can choose the one that best fits my mood or purpose for the card. A note, in my own writing lets the person I'm sending it to know that I, me myself, took the time to express my gratitude. I know when I do get thank you notes myself it means a lot to me.

So next time someone gives you a gift surprise them with a thank you card.

Tough Choices

I recently bought this book The Highlander's Touch, book 3 in Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series. The first two were wonderful with a perfect blend of paranormal, romance, and highlander historical fiction. I highly recommend this book to my friends that enjoy all of those qualities in books. And for the record I bought books 4 and 5 in the series as well, leaving books 6 and 7 for after the next pay check.

THEN a book I requested at the library came in. Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster is a book I've been eyeing for nearly three years. From what I can tell this book is about a spoiled brat finally growing up. And it's funny. I mean, you can tell that just by the title, can't you? The prologue, the only part I had time to read during my break today was funny and I can only imagine what chapter 1 will entail.

But now I'm torn between really wanting to read two books. Well, in a way it's really 4 books because I have three book from the Karen Marie Moning series ready to read (we won't discuss the fact that Nickel gets paid tomorrow and would mean that I can go buy the last two for that series) and I have three whole weeks to read the Jen Lancaster book before it's due back at the library. Oh! What to do, what to do?!!

So many books, so little time.

Hodgepodge

hodgepodge — n 1. a jumbled mixture 2. what happens when a blogger is too lazy to make three seperate blog posts

Today marks Peanut's 11 year on this earth. I don't remember age 10 having this big of an affect on me. Eleven just seems so much older. So much more mature. In a way, I miss the 5 year old that would tell me wild, often exasperating stories about penguins and sharks. But mostly I'm just excited to see her growing up and having adventures. She recently had an adventure with her grandma in Tulsa for Spring Break. She came home with a new haircut, some clothes and shoes, and high praise from her grandparents who said she was polite, kept her room clean and even made her bed! I was so proud of her!
 
While Peanut was away Nickel and I went on a date. We took Butter with us of course. That's how our dates have been for 11 years now because I'm too cheap to hire someone to watch my kid for a couple of hours. Our big date was dinner and a trip to Walmart. HA HA! At Walmart I finally broke down and bought a Digital Converter for our tv. We turned the cable off last summer because we didn't really use it. Peanut did but since she doesn't have a job to pay for it her vote didn't really count. Besides, we have Netflix and are able to watch tons of stuff there. Anyway, after hooking it up we discovered that we were able to get 4 or 5 channels which is enough for us. Tonight, I put Sesame Street on for Butter while Nickel went to take a shower and I settled down at the computer to catch up on email and blogs. A while later Nickel came and asked if I had changed the channel on the tv in the bedroom. I had not but there Butter was on the bed watching Star Trek, his grandfather's favorite show, with this head propped up by his hands perfectly relaxed. Sometimes it's a little freaky just how much he's like his grandfather, whom he's named after. Personally, I think it's really cool how much he's like him. It's kinda like we still have him around, just in a much smaller version.
 
I'm fasting from Facebook for Lent. My Twitter updates show up on Facebook. I'm not sure that that is really a good thing though. I had set it up that way after a friend told me it wasn't fair that I would be depriving her of my updates. But now that I know that my updates are going to Facebook and I won't go read the responses is starting to make my fingers itch a little bit. Not knowing what was going on in everyone else's lives, not that all that many earth shattering event have been posted on Facebook, but you just never know when it'll show up and I'm missing them! But then I think to myself, most of the people I'm friends with on Facebook I hadn't talked to since 1997 to 99. My truest friends have my phone number and call or text me anything I really should know right away. And of course there's always email which I'm sure is listed in my profile information if someone really truly wanted to talk to me. So the fact that I haven't really heard from that many people in the last 14 days should tell me something, right? LOL, it tells me that people have lives seperate from mine and I'm cool with that. I'll be ok for a few more days I think. ;)
 

So, that's what's going on in the Fresh-Cut world. Please, leave me comments. I could use some communication here.

Treasures

"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." Matthew 6:19-21 Message

This verse came from a devotional I read today. It made me think, like a good devotional should. What are my treasures? Where do I place them? Then I switched it from the church-y sounding verse to the Message.

The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

For all the stalkers out there, I spend a bulk of my time at home when I'm not working. I'm often sitting around reading a book or playing with the kids or just hanging out with Nickel discussing life and family.

One or two times a week I have coffee with friends. I really like my time in the coffee shops because paying $4 for a cup of coffee seems to make people happy. Or maybe it's because people go there with people they like to be around and visit with while enjoying a tasty beverage.

Another place I like to be is in church on Saturday Night when my pastor is speaking. When I have to miss one of his sermons my week just doesn't set right. You can imagine my funk when over the last few months we've had special speakers and he's had to take off for one reason or another. I do get out and do other things but they're not very important to me.

So where I keep my treasures are at home in a book and in an expensive cup of coffee? Uh... is that really where I want to keep my treasures?

But today's passage gave me cause to pause. Sometimes even the obvious isn't obvious without at least taking a moment to think.

My home isn't my treasure. It's my family that fills it.

The coffee shop isn't my treasure. That's where I spend time with my friends through laughter and tears.

My church isn't my treasure. That's where I go to interact with fellow believers, where I worship, where I learn, where I grow spiritually.

My could be destroyed and yes, I would miss my things but as long as I had my family I would survive. I could never have another cup of coffee or chai in my life and I would survive, but without my friends I would be miserable. I could stop going to my church for one reason or another and I would miss it terribly because of the people and the experiences but I'd take God with me because He's in my heart, with my friend and my family, my treasure.

-where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars...

A Day Without Facebook

Ah Facebook. A place where you can be "friends" with people you haven't spoken to since you graduated from High School (no matter how long ago that was) or never met in your real life. A place where you can "like" what's going on in your "friend"'s lives. A place where millions of people waste hours of time playing games like Farmville and Frontierville. Frontierville was my game and I know plenty of people that play both and then some others.

My phone has this handy little button that if I press it, takes me straight to my Facebook home page and I can see who likes what, who posted where, and what other people are saying. Since my phone is by my bed at night often when I woke up at 3 and 4 am I would pop online from the comfort of my pillows and see what had happened since I fell asleep. Then I would crawl out of bed and come to my computer and play Frontierville for an hour or two depending on what kind of missions I was trying to accomplish. I would check it again before going to work. At work I would check Facebook on my breaks and comment and like what was going on with my friends. At lunch, if I wasn't reading a book I'd usually be on Facebook. Then again while supper was cooking. When things get real slow at night when I do work I'd find myself wanting to get on Facebook "real quick" and struggling with not actually doing it. Then as soon as I'd get home I'd get on Facebook. Are you seeing a pattern here?

Yeah. Me too.

Obviously, I need a change.

Twenty-four hours ago, more or less, I posted a little farewell. I checked it once about 10 minutes after posting but that was the last time. I removed the little easy button on my phone so that Facebook is no longer just a click away. I removed the Favorites button on my Internet tool bar for the same reason. Sure I can still go to Facebook on my computer and my phone, but not without some thought.

Twenty-four hours without Facebook and I haven't caved yet.

So what did I do today, you might be wondering. Well, this morning when I got out of the shower I found an awake Baby Butter playing with three cars and a piece of his Thomas the Train railroad track so we crashed his cars for a good 10 minutes. Then he brought me his bucket of Little People and we played with them. I started another book later in the day. While on my dinner break I talked to Peanut on the phone while waiting for my food and then in my work's break room I worked on a Sudoku puzzle. Tonight when I got home from work after sure the children were tucked into bed and making some tea Nickel and I talked for an hour about. A whole hour! Just him and me talking. Mostly about our jobs and the kids, married people stuff. It was amazing. Not that we don't ever talk. We just don't get many hour long uninterrupted conversations. How many of those have I missed because I was playing on Facebook?

I didn't miss Facebook. Not like I thought I would. I've gone a day or two without it before, especially when I go to the land of dial-up, aka my parent's, where getting on Facebook take more patience than I usually have so a day without hasn't bothered me. And all that time with my family that I would've probably spent on Facebook...

Joel 2:12-14 Message

12 But there's also this, it's not too late- God's personal Message! "Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!"

13-14Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here's why: God is kind and merciful. He takes a deep breath, puts up with a lot, this most patient God, extravagant in love, always ready to cancel catastrophe. Who knows? Maybe he'll do it now,  maybe he'll turn around and show pity. Maybe, when all's said and done, there'll be blessings full and robust for your God!



The book I started today.



The Simple Things

I now work at the Library. I don't know if I've mentioned that here on my blog or not. Most of my readers live in the same flat state that I do, but I know from time to time I have a few visitors from other parts of the world. Anyway, I've been there three months and I can honestly say that I like my job.

Today, I saw this really cute red headed guy, probably about 8 years old, walk across the library with the BIGGEST smile of pure happiness on his face. He was holding a book. I couldn't tell which book it was, but he held it close to his heart in a bear hug. This kid looked like he'd just opened up his birthday presents and got everything he ever wanted AND a pony.

I've seen a similar look on several other people at the library, but not to this extreme. Several people when I call to tell them that books they asked to be held for are in squeal with delight. They're probably jumping up and down, I just can't tell. Obviously. And even with their smiles when they come to pick up their book they're not the pure happiness of this little red headed boy today.

It got me thinking about the simple things in life. I remember when I was growing up and would money for my birthday. It was never a lot of money, but it was to me. And with that money I was able to buy my Barbie a brand new outfit!!! I'm pretty sure my face matched that redheaded boy's today.

Is it just the innocence of age that allows children to have that pure joy over simple things? As we grow older do we just become jaded to this world of disappointments that simple things just can't produce pure joy anymore? Or is it not really and age thing but more an American thing. Here we get stuff all the time and simple things like a borrowed book from a library means so little compared to the latest electronic gizmo.

The Lenten season is upon us again. I hadn't even realized it and hadn't been preparing for it at all. I didn't plan to give anything up as I have in past years. But today I realized that Ash Wednesday is this week. And I began to think. And the more I think about it the more resolved I become in my decision.  I want to find joy in the simple things so that means I need to get away from time wasters, namely, Facebook. I waste a lot of time on Facebook everyday so this will be a challenge of epic proportions for me. I like a challenge, especially one I set for myself.

I hope that boy I saw in the library today never loses his happiness in finding the perfect book. And I hope that I can find such pure joy in the simple things, like a borrowed library book.

Ketchup and Peanuts

Princess Peanut has embarked on a modeling career. Recently she was photographed with a new Chick-fil-A ketchup packet and it made it to this blog. Personally, I think the photographer should've noticed that her hair was a mess and calmed it down just a smidge but the new ketchup packets was the subject at hand. Check out Peanut and my friend Eric.

Valentine's Day

I don't like Valentine's Day very much. Me and him have history and I learned early on I didn't like him. Not one bit.

My birthday is the 11th of February. Growing up I received many a stuffed dog with red hearts for spots. I didn't like dogs and I didn't like hearts but people always bought me the generic Valentine's gifts instead of something I did like. I know, it should've been the thought that counted but I tried to pick out things I knew my friends liked for their birthdays I just couldn't understand why they couldn't do the same for me.

When I met Nickel and I knew that I'd always have a date for Valentine's Day and flowers that I never received from the boyfriends I never had. But he doesn't celebrate Valentine's Day. He doesn't celebrate my birthday either. Sometimes I get a card. If he remembers in time. And stops at the store for something and sees the cards.  Flowers just die so he refuses to spend money on them. I like to remind him that he'll die someday too but I still shell out the dough on stuff for him. He doesn't get it. I'm lucky to get a "Happy Birthday" and a "Happy Valentine's Day" during the month of February.

Nickel did bring home supper for me the day before my birthday. I, of course, had to pay for it though.

Gosh I sound bitter.

Well, maybe I am a little bit.

One year the temps were bitter cold and our pipes froze while we were at work and it took Nick crawling under the house, a lamp, a plumber and a lot of money the next day to get water back on. That held the "suckiest Valentine's Day" award in my book. Well, until this year.

This year my whole family decided to get sick before Valentine's Day. So for Valentine's day this year Baby Butter and I went to the doctor. He has the flu. I do not. Yet.

So, instead of a nice dinner in a crowded resturant I spent a hundred bucks on flu medicine. Another 30 for misc items like tissues, clorox wipes and meds for Nickel. And then another 10 at sonic on milkshakes because none of us feel like eating.

And just as I was about to put this horrible day to bed my sweet two year old, Baby Butter walked up to me, put his little hands on the sides of my face and pulled me to him and gave me three kisses on the cheek. (blinks back tears)

Yep, this was the best Valentine's Day ever.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

I read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein today. All 321 pages in just over 6 hours with a few breaks for meals, coloring my hair, you know, normal weekend stuff. This book was hard to put down.

The narrator of this book is Enzo. Enzo is a dog and on the eve of his death he reflects on his life with Denny. His owner. His best friend. And the life they've shared for ten years. Denny is a race car driver as you might have imagine from the title. There are references made to racing but they are presented as life lessons instead of just driving lessons.

This book was emotional. I normally go out of my way to avoid emotional books. I do not like to cry. I know that crying can release built up tension and blah blah blah. If you don't build up tension then you have none to release is all I'm saying. I'm not a pretty crier and Nickel takes every chance to make fun of me for crying over movies and books so that has helped me to avoid tearful situations.

But after hearing a coworker describe this book I thought I'd like to read it. When she finished the book she gave it to me to check out and I did. Then I read some reviews. Most of the reviews at Amazon tell you how wonderful the book is. But there were a few bad reviews and I made the mistake of reading them.  Suddenly I was no longer sure I could handle reading the book. The review upset me and I told Nickel that if reading a review upset me so much I couldn't imagine what the book would do to me. I tend to carry emotions from books around with me for days (which is why I stick with happily ever afters as much as possible). I asked my coworker about it and explained the review that I read. She assured me that Denny was innocent.  A high school friend had also read the book and said she thought I would enjoy the book.  Reassured I pushed forward with my plan to read the book over the weekend.

I didn't full out cry until the last two chapters. And then I only cried for a couple of moments at how perfect the ending was. I walked into the bedroom to put the book down and Nickel asked me what was wrong. I told him nothing, a favorite answer I'm sure, but seeing the book in my hands he said "Oh. The book." I could tell he wanted to say something sarcastic so I quickly told him, "Don't you dare make fun of me." He shut up and let me grieve for Enzo and Denny and the bond that they shared. Later I told Nickel about the book and he listened. He didn't even make fun of me when I teared up at the end. He's learning I think.

I will carry the emotions from this book with me for the next few days to come. Thinking back on the book I'm still angry at some of the characters. Amazed by others. And totally in love with Enzo. And I'm not even a dog person.

Here are a couple of quotes that really spoke to me today.

"That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves"




"There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose."

Butter the Magician...

I must remember to pick up batteries next time I'm at the store so I can take pictures of Peanut and Butter. They're growing up so fast and I'm missing capturing the best parts of their childhood in photographic memories.

Tonight would've made a funny picture and should the opportunity arise again for a picture such as this I will try my best to capture the moment.

My son, my  baby, Butter he was playing and being cute as a bug full of life and energy. First he brought me Good Night Moon, one of our favorite children's books. But he didn't really want me to read the book. We just skipped around and found the "Old Lady whispering hush" and said "Shh". He likes that part best. Did I mention I was in the bathroom when he brought me this book. Yeah. not taking a picture of THAT moment, so don't worry.

Later as I was laying on the couch reading a book while he played around me. He picked up his foam sword and came to where I was and began to saw me in half. SAW ME IN HALF. He's two years old and my knowledge has never seen a circus act or anyone being sawn (or is it sawed) in two. What's up with this? Are boys just born knowing this stuff?

I've noticed he likes to cover things up with his little white blanket lately too. I might freak out if he said "Abracadabra". But now that I think about that I think I remember Bugs Bunny saying "Abracadabra" and "Hocus Pocus" in one of the cartoons Butter loves to watch so maybe that wouldn't freak me out so much.

But one thing is for sure. It's feels like a two-ring circus around here some days.

Growing Up Too Fast

Everyone knows that kids grow up too fast. Well, except maybe the kids who thinks it takes an eternity. As a parent I've really enjoyed Peanut as she's grown up. Oh, don't get me wrong there were lots of times when I would be stressed out so bad that I wanted her to just be 18 already (she was a very strong willed child) but those memories are fading nicely. Hard to believe that she will be 11 in just under two months. Seems like only yesterday I posted here on this blog about her kindergarten days. Getting proposed to, telling me all about penguins and other animals, and when she sat on my Camaro helping daddy fix it were just an example of my favorite memories. This blog is littered with tons of Peanut stories and I'm thankful for each of them. They help me remember that I wasn't always too stressed out to enjoy the moment.

Having Butter at the ripe old age of 29 I've been able to enjoy him more. Perhaps it's because he's an easier child. But I think it's more likely because I'm finally mature enough to be a parent. He makes me laugh. A lot. Yesterday I was making some bread dough and needed to mix the last of the flour in. This required me to mix it myself by hand. So there I stood at the kitchen counter both hands in the dough and Butter comes along and starts tickling my back! There was nothing I could do besides laugh and play along. Which made him laugh. Which made Nickel laugh when he came to see what all the noise was about and encouraged him to "get momma!". At another time in my life I probably would have yelled because I was busy and didn't have time to be tickled. This time I chose to enjoy the moment.

It is now 5 am and I've been up a good half hour. I hate when I wake up so early and can't get back to sleep. Thank goodness for the Internet and Facebook. As I sat here though, in the quiet house, I heard laughter. Laughter at 4:30 in the morning. Not common. Or maybe it is and I just don't know it. The laughter came from Butter who has insisted for the last several month on sleeping on the couch in the living room. The laugh lasted only a moment and then the house returned to it's quiet state, but for that moment, I was really glad I was awake. I wonder if he's dreaming about tickling his momma while her hands are stuck in the bread dough. Oh they grow up too fast.

Glimmerglass a Review

Peanut is forever asking me if she can read one of my books. And unfortunately my answer is usually no. Because for the most part I read Romance novels and they're inappropriate for Peanut-age girls.

However, not too long ago I picked up this teen-read by author Jenna Black. Jenna writes an adult series that I enjoy reading so I picked it up figuring I would enjoy the writing and pass it on to Peanut.

But that's not going to happen this time. Though this book is sold in the Teen section and the main characters are all teenagers I feel this book is inappropriate for my 10 year old Peanut. I think it's inappropriate for my 16 year old niece too, but please allow me to give you the reasons behind my decision.

16 year old Dana Hathaway has had it with her alcoholic mother so she decides to run away to Avalon, the only city in the world that exists in both the human and the Fae world, where the father she has never met lives. Once there everything goes wrong. She doesn't know who she can trust and someone wants to kill her.

Sounds interesting, huh? Well it was. The book is very interesting, even to this mom who generally avoids teen books.

Violence: On a scale of 1-5, 5 being the max, I would give this book a 2 in the violence area. There is a scene where the teenagers all produce either knives or guns to fight off the bad guys. And Dana is attacked by a water witch. It's probably better than watching the news when it comes to the violent content.

Alcohol and Drugs: Dana's mother is an alcoholic. Once in Avalon, Dana's new friends take her to an underground keg party where she is offered a beer. At another time one of her friends fixes a hot posset (milk, oatmeal, honey, nutmeg and whiskey) and Dana decides she likes it. Did I mention that she's 16 and alcoholism runs in her family? When Dana finally meets her dad he gives her champagne. One reference is made to drugs when a boy kisses Dana and she almost forgets herself. She accuses him of using a "roofie spell".

Language: is probably PG-13, sh*t, b*stard, crazy-*ss, *sshole, whore, wanker, hell

Sex: This is the part that will keep Peanut from reading the book. I get that the teen pregnancy rate is at an all time high but life imitates art and if art is constantly throwing sex at our teens and telling them its no big deal then our teens will think sex is no big deal. Several references to sex are made like "getting lucky" or "horny". A wagon is used as a get away car because "The wagon...[is] much more comfortable than the backseat of a car." Dana's friend stops Dana from going to brother's apartment alone and brother isn't overly happy about it. Her friend also tells her that her brother has charmed other, more experienced girls out of their knickers. The kisses are often described in detail with moaning

Positive Elements: Dana does find away to forgive her friends for their betrayal.

For me, I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Shadowspell that comes out Jan 4, 2011. For my daughter, I might let her read it. When she's 18.

The Key

This is a little story I wrote from a writing prompt that only gave me the first line. I could have done more with the story but the goal was to remain under 1000 words. I think it turned out ok.



Alice tried to remember who had given her the key. It was a little key compared to most so she was sure it wasn’t for a house or car. There were no inscriptions, no artsy detail, nothing to clue her in on its origin. Alice decided to save the key for further inspection later. She put her hand in the small box her grandfather had built for years before to hold all her precious memories. She pulled out a blue marble. The marble she remembered.


The summer she turned thirteen was a special year in her memory. That was the year that her family went to Yellowstone National Park for a family vacation. The first and only trip they took as a family And that was the summer she met Alan McCormick. Alan moved into the house across from her grandpa Mike. Grandpa Mike lived on Elm, three streets over and Alice was allowed to ride her bike to Grandpa Mike’s but no further. Alice always thought that was a stupid rule.

Alan was the same age as she was but he was a good six inches taller. He had shaggy brown hair and was the cutest boy that Alice had ever seen in her whole life. His dad didn’t live with them and his mom worked days so Alan would spend most of his day hanging out in Grandpa Mike’s garage helping him tinker around with Grandpa Mike’s hot rod.

On one particularly hot day Alice was visiting her Grandpa Mike when Alan showed up. “Why don’t you kids go down to the store and pick me a quart of oil,” he said wiping his greasy hands on a red towel.

“I’m not allowed Grandpa,” Alice said quietly.

“Well, if I tell you to go then I think it’s alright. If your mother has issue with it she can take it up with me. And while you’re at it you can stop in that ice cream place and get you a scoop too. My treat.” Alice beamed. She loved their plain vanilla ice cream.

At the Redman Shoppe, where Alice and Alan stopped for ice cream, Alice’s least favorite person, Lisa Brown stepped up beside Alice. “That your new boyfriend?” she asked in the most annoying voice possible after Alan left to wash his hands.

“Go away, Lisa.”

“Obviously he’s not or you would’ve said so.” Lisa smirked.

“You know what, Lisa. Yes he is. Now, go away!”

“I think you’re lying.”

“What-“

“Hi, I’m Lisa!” She said over Alice’s shoulder. “You’re Alice’s new boyfriend, right?” Alan walked around and sat down across from Alice.

“Yep,” he flashed Lisa a bright smile and turned back to Alice and ignoring Lisa. “Oh, I almost forgot, I got you something.” Alan dug into his pocket and produced the bright blue marble. “it’s almost the same shade of blue as your eyes.”

Lisa made a loud sound and stomped away.

“Thank you, you didn’t have to do that.”

Alan grabbed Alice’s wrist, turned her hand palm side up and dropped the marble, “I really did think of you when I saw it and I want you to have it.”

Alice closed her fingers over the marble tightly, that day Alan held Alice’s hand as they walked back to Grandpa Mike’s.

Alice smiled as she set the marble aside. Next she pulled a pressed four leaf clover that Alan had given her the day before she took her driver’s test. A spark plug from when Alan showed her how to change them in her old Camaro and the dried corsage from senior prom found their way out of the box too.

“What you doin?” a voice asked from behind her.

“Just digging in my box,” she replied.

“Find anything interesting?”

“Everything in my box is interesting. Even this key I don’t seem to remember from before.”

“Let me see,” Alan reached out for the key and studied it for a moment. “I know what this key is to,” he finally said. “Come with me.”

Alan and Alice walked over to his house waving at Grandpa Mike who was in his garage. “Hey Mom!” Alan called out as they walked past the kitchen. Together they walked into Alan’s room and over to his bookshelf where a small wooden box sat. “This is what the key goes to,” Alan told her and handed her the box.

Alice turned the box over in her hand. “Where did you get this?” Alice asked.

“Just open the box,” he whispered.

Alice stuck the key in the hole and turned it. The lid popped open and inside, nestled in a bed of black silk lay a simple diamond ring. Alice looked up into Alan’s gleaming eyes. “You have the key to my heart. Will you marry me?”

Exactly ten years from the day they met Alice Michaels and Alan McCormick were wed in a small service in Grandpa Mike’s back yard. After the ceremony Alice put the key back into her memory box with all her other precious memories.

Character

The past few weeks have been somewhat trying for me. My oven doesn't work. We were without gas for three and a half days (read: no hot water), the ac wasn't working, the children were cranky, and everything else that could go wrong, did.

There were times I broke down and sobbed. Not because of one particular thing but because it all added up to a lot of stress.

I like to think of stress as a glass and water. You can hold a glass without any trouble. You can turn it over and toss it in the air. You can spin in on your finger tips. But stress is like water being poured into the glass. Now you can't spin the glass. You can't toss it into the air. But still, it's just a glass of water. But then more water gets poured into the glass until it's full. You can hold that glass for a minute without any problems. But after two minutes your arm starts to ache a little. After five minutes you're looking around for a place to set it down or longing to switch hands. But you can't. No, you have to hold the glass of water in the one hand with no where to put it and keep it from spilling. After an hour your arm starts to twitch and what was just a little glass of water suddenly feels like the weight of the world. Gosh that's a really long explanation, but it's simple in my head.

Book characters don't deal with no heat or air conditioning and hot water. They deal with murder and mayhem and mysteries of life and death. But they're all challenges and these challenges and how we deal with them add up to our character.

So I thought to myself, if I'm going to be the heroine in my own story (as is Catherine Morland's quest in Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen) what kind of character am I? I don't want to be the whiny character that can't do anything for themselves. I want to be that strong character that goes out and solves the problems all by herself, well, maybe with the help of a few friends along the way. Now, I'll be honest, I did whine a little bit. I've already admitted to crying as well. But I kept my head on my shoulders. I tried not to pass blame on to anyone else as my problems were no ones fault except my own. And now that I'm through the worst of it I look back and think, it wasn't so bad.

So, what's your character like? Do you find yourself wishing you could change something about your character? It's ok if you do, that's called character growth and is needed in any good novel (or I guess we could even say movie, tv series, etc). I like to think as a character I'm growing. And someday I will be the heroine of my story!

The Memory Box

When I was in high school my upon my request, my daddy made me a wooden box. This box is about eighteen inches long, ten inches wide and twelve inches high. A good size box. He stained it and attached a plain silver handle. The box is simple and to me it is the most beautiful thing he has ever made.

For nearly 15 years I've keep odd and end little things in the box to remind me of yester-year. Today, I decided to prepare the box for the next generation. It will still be a few years before I actually hand it over but I wanted to go through it today anyway.

Inside I found cards I had recieved as a small child from my grandmother who passed from this life in 1998 and my favorite aunt whom I don't see as often as I should. The cards from my grandmother were especially hard to read without crying.

There was the medal I won at a regional drama competition as well as the remark pages we were given, the tassel from my graduation cap, and several pictures and mementos from my senior year inside my box.

I found cards from Nickel for various holidays, a couple of invitations to our wedding that was in 1999 and Mother's Day cards from my daughter. Poems that I like.

A little brown piggy bank that if I remember correctly was my great-grandmother's. My mother's senior year picture was still in an old frame along with a picture of my dad long before he knew that name.

After Nick's grandmother passed away I saved a few of her momentos like a book young Nickel wrote when he was maybe 6 and a picture of Nickel with long curly hair (if you know my husband you'll understand why this picture is important!).  And a host of other memories from along the way.

Staring at these memories I want to laugh and I want to cry. Laugh at the fun I've had along the way and cry for the people that completed their jouney ahead of me, including the children two of my dearest friends have lost.

I'm not ready to turn over the box to Peanut, but already I've stored special art project she's made. Soccer pictures from the three seasons she played, the program from the ballet recital we were in, some blog posts that I printed out as a reminder of the funny things she said or the things I wanted her to know about me and my life. My hope is that she will cherish these memories in the Memory Box as much as I have cherished her.

A Writing Exercise

I have a writing program that gives me various writing prompts. Then I'm to write for 15 minutes. That might sound easy but isn't when you're not use to doing something like that.

This particular exercise was fun because I've gone back to school off and on several times working towards a random degree. Please note that this piece has not been edited. There are more than likely misspelled words, bad grammer, and puncutation errors. It ends where it ends. You don't exactly write a novel in 15 minutes so I did the best I could to write a whole scene.

Please feel to make comments about good or bad. After all, it was just an exercise.


Character: Bill Teets



Goal: To get a degree


Obstacle: A former girlfriend





Bill Teets walked into the science room. He was just 4 hours from finishing his degree. The only class he lacked, Chemestry. It was a lower level class but he had managed to avoid it the whole time. Until last spring when he applied for graduation and was denied. Seems some colleges, ok, most colleges wouldn't let you graduate without these four little credit hours.

Bill was not looking forward to Chemistry. He had failed it in HighSchool when Mrs McGowan taught it. The periodic table was just a bunch of letters and numbers to him.

Bill chose a seat about half back in the third row. His eyes functioned better in the front but he didn't want to seem eager. He was anything but. Kids piled into the class and took their seats and gossiped with one another.

Bill closed his eyes for a moment. Maybe this class wouldn't be so bad. "Are we already boring you, Mr Teet?" a saucy voice asked.

Hearing his name Bill quickly opened his eyes to see where it was coming from. He groaned to himself when he saw the body that went with the voice. It was none other that Veronica Hut. The girl that broke his heart ten years prior at the senior prom.

"No." Bill replied.

Veronica turned around and picked up a dry erase marker and began to write on the white board.

This is going to be a long semester, Bill thought to himself. After class Veronica asked Bill to stay a moment while the other students left.

"How have you been?" she asked as he walked up to her desk, slinging a backpack over one shoulder.

"I've been good, V. Yourself?"

She smiled and looked him up and down. "I've been good. So tell me Bill, what brings you to my class."

"Just looking to graduate, this is my last class."

"I see, and exactly how well do you think you'll do in my class, Bill?" she asked.

"Well, I'm hoping to do alright. I've got a decent GPA and I'd like to keep it. But I never was any good at this sort of thing."

"Hmm" Veronica packed up her things into a briefcase. "I suppose I could help you." She looked back at him with fire in her eyes. He knew what she was proposing. He thought about it for a moment.

He made his decision. He grinned at her. "Mighty fine offer there Veronica," he paused.

"It's not one I give very often, in fact, you're the first."

"Well, I do feel honored to be given such attention."

Veronica walked around the desk so that she was standing next to him. She ran a hand up and down his his arm. "I could make this class very easy for you,"she whispered, "or very hard." she grabbed him and squeezed.

"Oh, I know you can."

Fairy Tales

I looked up Fairy Tales in wikipedia tonight for some odd reason and read some synopsis. Some were just as I remembered them. Others I had no heard of. I don't know what I'm looking for exactly, just an example to use in my head I guess.

I've never actually read the compilation of Grimm fairy tales although some of you might be surprised at the list of fairy tales they have written. For example Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping  Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, and Snow White are all some of their works.

So what are your favorite fairy tales? Are you a fan of the Brothers Grimm? Do you prefer Hans Christian Andersen who wrote the Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, and the Little Mermaid to name a few?

So Good, I Cried

*insert soft melody*

 I had a customer the other night that was looking for a particular title. Since she was in the book department I assumed she wanted the book. She was looking for the DVD though. No big, I can look both up. I've had no desire to this particular movie because it's sad. I don't do sad. My customer says "It was so good, I cried."

*insert abrupt end of music co-insiding with a record scratch*

 Er, "so good, I cried?" That sounds like an oxymoron to me. I don't like to cry so how can anyone ever say something is good and that they cried.

"Oh! She said, but it has a happily ever after." I'm a little leary of this movie/book. Ok, all girls need to cry sometimes, just to get it out," she says. "The next time you need to cry and just get it all out, rent this movie."

Er. I don't forsee that anytime soon, but sure. If the time comes that I need a reason to cry (rolling my eyes here) I'm going to rent this movie.

So what's your take on "So good, I cried"? Do you like those chick-flick movies that make you weep tears of sorrow and joy? Do you like a good cry? Does it not leave you with a pounding headache like it does me?

Lover Mine

Here is a book I cannot wait to read! Lover Mine by J.R. Ward comes out Tuesday!!  J.R. Ward writes an amazing "trashy" vampire romance novels. This one is book eight of the series. They are oh so good. A little dark. A little passionate. And a whole lot of sexy. I'm just saying if I lived in that world, I'd want me one of the brothers... ;)

And Now For Something Completely Different, Only Not Really

A friend and I were discussing blogging the other day. He misses me and I miss him.

I'm doing something a little new in my life. I'm attempting to write a book. A book that will perhaps someday be published. This book is a trashy romance story. No vampires in the one I'm currently writing though.  I've never had a problem with coming up with an idea or even writing some.But here's the problem, I suck at finishing what I start. So I'm hoping that remedy that. The story I'm working on now, that I probably won't publish here anytime soon, is now sitting at around 23 pages. My first goal is to make it to 50 pages. And if the story is done there then it's done and on to the next one. If it's not done then I'll shoot for 75 pages. Should I actually make it to 300 pages I will be shouting and singing off key! I figure, like everything else in life, the more I practice the better I'll get. And if I can start and finish a story in 50 pages then maybe the next time I write a story I can stretch it out. That's what I'm hoping for anyway. I will try to post some of my work, maybe some writing exercises I get from one of the programs I'm using. That's always fun. I'm given a person, a situation, a conflict and fifteen minutes to write.


And along the way I'm going to promote a few books. You may have noticed the little Amazon box here with a new Stephenie Meyer short story here. I love Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series and I'm excited to see she's coming out with something new. My customers at the book store will be excited too when I tell them about it! So go pre-order it. It comes out June 5, 2010 and that's a great price! And order the rest of the series if you haven't read it yet. It's a love story. I heart love stories.

Thanks for coming back to my blog. May the creative juices start to flow!

That's how he rolls

Guess what, another Baby Butter story.

Are you tired of them yet?

Too bad.

I'm sitting at the computer but the screen is not what holds my attention. Instead it is my 1 year old son sitting on the floor in the kitchen. Throughout the day he has managed to push 5 hotwheels, 2 fire trucks, and three police cars in there. Earlier while I was cooking supper he quietly played with his hotwheels. Then we played with his firetrucks together. After super is when he pushed the 3 police cars in. He crawled along the floor with a car in each hand, then once they were right where he wanted he crawled back to the other room where the other cop was patiently waiting his turn and took him to his friends. For over five minutes now the police cars have been pushed from one end of the kitchen to the other and he's even managed to push all three at the same time by sandwiching them together. How adorable is he??!! I could watch him play all day.

He also likes to talk to the boy in the mirror in his bedroom when he's suppose to be sleeping. Today, i put a very sleepy boy in his bed and went to my own to relax and read a book. Before too long I could hear the jabbers. Lots of da-das, ma-mas and ba-bas. He makes other sounds that resemble words too. For instance the other day sitting in the doctor's office he said "breakfast". Tall Doc was impressed I believe.

These days won't last forever though. I'm so glad I get to stay home with him and watch him learn new things!!!

Winding Down

Peanut counted down the last days of school in May and now she counts down the last days of summer. She's ready to go back to school. Ready to start the 4th (gasp! did I just say that?) grade. And I'm ready too.

Not that having her around has been a burden. She hasn't been. She's a fantastic big sister helping me when I need it. She is getting a little whiney because we've run out of places for her to go. She hit two church camps and a girl scout camp, all of which were over with by the first of July. Now she sits at home bored most of the day because her mean mean momma won't let her watch tv non-stop. Although, I'm being nicer and letting her have it on for 30 minutes here and there during the day. A lot of her friends are in daycare or some sort of program this summer so her friend choices have been limited.

But really, the reason I'm looking forward to school starting is the routine of it. I'm sure I'll be griping about it before too long, but right now I'm looking forward to the whole day with just me and Butter. Then at 3:15 telling Peanut to do her homework before her friends come over and if she left it at school then I guess they can play TOMORROW after she finishes it. It's "unfair" I know, but like I said, I'm a mean, mean momma.

Seventeen day, counting weekends, until the first day of school. We can make it.

Baby Butter Turns One

As strange as it may seem the boy has actually gone and turned one year old this weekend. He started walking this week taking several steps each day. Mostly this is done around meal time when he feels he must check out what is on everyone's plate and taste it for quality assurance. His sister, Peanut, walked for speghetti so it's only fitting that he walked for french fries, yes?

We celeberated his birthday Friday night with family coming in from out of town. We had invited a lot of friends and family in the area but for one reason or another they were unable to make the event. Such is life in the summertime. But we had a blast! The weather was perfect in the mid 90s and the food was delicious if I do say so myself. The older children played in the pool and Baby Butter even got in for a few minutes and played too. His 10 month old cousin, Graham Cracker was the only kid not to swim but he didn't seem to mind.

Visiting with Nickel's family (mine live too far away to drive over for an evening) was fun. We hadn't all been together since Christmas. There was talk of politics and vacations and jobs and money and plans for a fall gathering at a family favorite camp site.

After everyone had filled their bellies with hamburgers or hotdogs, potato salad, deviled eggs, apple-berry salsa and cinnamon chips the cupcakes were brought out. Baby Butter was loaded into his chair and a loaf-sized cake set before him. But he was still eating a cinna-chip and cried when daddy tried to take it away.

After he made the chip disappear though he focused on his cake. We laughed for over 30 minutes as he ate it, diving face first in the cake and coming up to chew, swollow and breathe before diving again back into the cake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BUTTER!!!

True Love

True love is coming home when it's dark outside and always finding the front porch light on.

Turning ( ? ) years old

So my 17 year old friend, NotSpears, and I were talking at work last week about working the same days and nearly the same shifts last weekend when another co-worker happened upon our conversation. He didn't pretend to not listen and quickly asked me if I was in school or something. I laughed and said no. Then he asked how old I was. I smiled. I love this game.
"How old do you think I am?" I asked with a coy smile.

He furrowed his brow a little as he gave it some serious thought. He knew not to over guess because women don't usually like that but he didn't want to guess too low either. "Twenty." He finally said without hesitation.

I flashed him a million dollar smile, "You, my friend, are my new best friend!" He blinked not really understanding my response. "Actually," I continued, "my birthday is on the 11th and I will be 30." His eyes bugged out of his head. He just could not believe I was THAT old.

It's become our new game at work now. Customers, his friends, come up to the register and he quickly asks, "How old do you think she is?" I've got several different answers but mostly they're under 23. I love my job.

Enchanted

Tonight at church I was cleaning up the communion stuff when Pastor T, Peanut's pastor, peeked his head in through the window and asked if she was in the room with me. She was not. He smiled and told me that he thought Peanut was mature and pretty special and that she needed to be in a movie, a movie about her because her stories are "enchanting". I smiled and thanked him for the compliment and he went on his merry little way.

After he left I got to thinking, Peanut does indeed have a way of enchanting people. I often thought it was just her parents and grandparents she enchanted at a young age. Though I'm immune to some of her enchanting ways, as parents are apt to learn after half a dozen or so years, she still has her moments.

Sometimes I get caught up in the hum-drum of life and get annoyed at her little stories she repeats over and over from the back seat of the car or across the room. Sometimes I cut her off or assume I know what she's going to say. But when I take the time to really listen she does come up with some nuggets of wisdom or anecdote.

Sometimes I need to be reminded that life will still be there and I need to pay attention, I need to be enchanted, before she grows up and conquers the world.

Books By Mail

So I'm totally in a reading frenzie these days. I've read the Twilight Saga 2 complete times through (including the partial Midnight Sun posted on Stephenie Meyer's website) and have read Twilight and Breaking Dawn (the first and last book of the series) 3 times each. Yeah, still totally love that series.

But I've also been reading some other books too. Some vampire books, some aliens, some warewolves, some this, some that, all fiction and paranormal in some fashion. However, I have started The Shack by William Young which is a man who spends a couple of days with God in, you guessed it, a shack. Anyway, just finished the forward and am looking forward to getting started with this book.

Seeing as how up until tonight I was unemployeed I didn't exactly have a lot of money just hanging around for me to spend on books. I tried my local library. I won't say it sucks because my momma said if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all... so I'll not say anything at all. Then my brilliant, smart,and wonderful friend Abby Normal (you know how I love to protect the names of the innocent- she knows who she is) suggested this website called Paperspine.com.

It is wonderful. It's like Netflicks, but for books. You sign up for how many books you want to recieve at a time and then for a monthly fee you they'll send the books on your queue for you to read. You read them and send them back in the postage paid envelopes and a few days later you get another book! How cool is that!

The ONLY part that sucks is the days you have to wait while books are in the mail. But I guess that's the reason you should sign up for 2 or more books. That way you're reading the next book while you're waiting for the one that's in the mail.

This system is SO much easier then spending $80 a week for a half dozen books that barely last you a month and then take up a ton of space in your house. Now if you get a book that you fall in love with and never ever ever want to part with you just email the company and tell them what book you just have to keep forever and they'll let you know how much it'll cost ya, if you're ok with that they'll just charge your card and you live happily ever after.

The End.

Epilogue-
Uncle Joe thinks I can't write a post with using the word "baby" in it. And so I had to make sure this post had "baby" in a couple of times even though it had nothing to do with my "baby".
:)

Something To Talk About

Baby B has found his voice box. When he's awake he jabbers almost non-stop. He's got lots to say you see. And of course he has a captive audience because who can refuse him? That's right, no one. Not even the puppy dog on his crib's bumper. He's really good at the short "a" sound. I've been working with him on the "m" sound but he hasn't quite put the two together to say Ma yet. Give him time.

He also is a mover and a shaker. On Halloween he rolled over from back to belly and has gone back to belly a couple times since but more often then not he just gets stuck on his belly. But he won't be stuck for long. Nope this kid kicks his legs and occasionally gets them up under him! As soon as he figures out how to lift his belly up off the floor I'll be in BIG trouble.

Well... there's a lot of baby proofing still to be done, so that's where I'll be for a while.

Ta-ta!

It's A Big Year

Peanut is in the third grade. I think this must be a big year because people keep telling "it's a big year". Third grade is when you start getting letter grades on all your papers and report cards. Third grade is when you learn to write in cursive. Third grade is when you take the big state tests. Third grade is when I realized she was determined to grow up no matter what my opinion was on the matter. Hmph.

A couple of weeks ago Peanut brought home her first progress report. The grades were where I expected them on some levels but way off in other areas. I quickly realized she doesn't quite seem to be taking school seriously. I mean, it's a big year, doesn't she care? I guess that phrase means nothing to her.

Her father and I discussed the importance of making good grades with her. We told her it's not about who hands in the paper first, but who hands in the paper right! She nodded in agreement and said she understood. We increased study time in the evening but still papers flooded home with Ds and Fs on them. Concerned that the teacher had not commented on her progress I made the phone call and made the appointment to talk to her. This momma don't like Ds and Fs. The teacher was very kind. We spoke of things that could be changed at school, areas that she needs help in even though she passed the BEAR test. I left the meeting feeling satisfied that everything the school can do to help Peanut out in fact will happen. But now comes the hard part. Lowering the boom, cracking the whip, and buckling down at home about homework and study habits do not come easy to me. I will be the first to admit that my husband and I have a pretty relaxed style of parenting, within reason of course.

I guess this is an important year. This is the year I've learned it's important to stay focused, even when I'm distracted by other things (Baby B, computer games, etc). I've learned that after the after school snack comes homework and no amount of whining or pleading will change that. I've learned that there are free online resources I can use as bargaining chips for her to earn tv time. I wonder what other lessons I will learn this year, because you know, it's a big year.

Sleeping in

Baby B is a wonder baby, but he doesn't sleep through the night. He's close but his little internal clock has this 2 am setting that I can't seem to reset. On occasion he'll wake up earlier then 2, like at 1:30 and last night he overslept a little and didn't wake up until 3. But without fail since the night he was born, we get up around 2 every night. We've been working on resetting the 4 am setting and most nights he'll sleep until 6. Last night he did well, woke up at 3 and again at 6. After getting up at 6 I was too lazy to up him back in his bed so he slept with me. Around 8 he started squeaking and I hollered for Nickel who was up and about. Nickel took him and I got to sleep for another hour. It was total bliss.

We have a lazy day scheduled. Yesterday was busy with lunch with some friends, a wedding, and church. Today, there's nothing that I have to do. I might try to think of something just so I can get out of the house and have some quite me time. It makes staying at home with the baby all week easier if I get out by myself on the weekends.

****************

Peanut signed up for Girl Scouts last week. We went to this big event at a local play ground place. There were a million school age girls there. It resembled Dante's 5th ring of the Inferno. (Please note it's been years since I read the Divine Comedy and cannot remember what each ring actually stands for and I'm too lazy to Google it because I was just trying to make a funny) Anyhoo, for two hours I sat and endured the torture of listening to the girls gab, squeal, and gripe about the bus driver that lives in some obscure little town. The children weren't so bad though, they were playing and having fun. I found out that the meetings are every week. Should be interesting. I'm sure Peanut will have lots of fun.

Kindness

Perhaps kindness has not totally become extinct in our world like I thought. Today Baby B and I had to go to the post office. When we left the house he was in a wonderful mood. The short ride was quite. I manged to make it in the doors carrying a diaper bag, carrier with 11+ pound baby, and box to mail. The line was long, but moving. Baby B and I took our place at the end of the line at the door. THEN he decided he was not happy. I knelt down to talk to him to try to pacify him. People were watching of course. Baby B did not want his binky and would not calm down so I had to take him out of his carrier. Meanwhile people are coming up behind me and cutting in line all because I'm tending to my child instead of moving with the line. I was talking quietly to Baby B trying to calm him down. I commented to him on how we lost our place in line because he was crying. Not in a blaming way but in a "can you believe these rude people?" way. The people that cut in line either talked to people around them or stared at the floor. Meanwhile Baby B is still crying. After a few moments that felt like eternity to this mom trying to calm her son down, a lady from closer to the front of the line came back and offered to help me move my stuff to my place in line. She picked up my car seat and placed it in front of the first lady that cut in line. The two ladies my things were now in the middle of were nice enough to help push all my things along in the line as it moved while I held my baby.

Perhaps it wasn't how I would've handled the situation if reversed, but people actually came through and show some kindness. In the end and I was able to tend to Baby B and get my package in the mail.

Motherhood

Last night both kids were screaming at me. I had to smile and almost laugh because it was kinda funny. Peanut was upset because we insisted she do her homework (mean parents!) and Baby Butter was mad because he was super tired and hungry and it was just too much work to suck on that bottle! He's so cute when he pouts and cries!! Peanut, well, she's pretty funny too when she's crying over her mean parents making her do homework, but don't tell her that!

New Pics

The boy child is almost 3 weeks old. I can't believe how grown up he is already!Doesn't he look like daddy?

Peanut was holding him while I went to get the sheets out of the dryer. This is how I found them when I got back. I didn't tell her that the tv was too far away for him to even see.

One Week

Well, it's been a week since Baby B was born. Life is slowly finding a rhythm. SLOWLY. We've had tons of guest and I can't keep up with my phone calls. But I promised pictures and pictures you shall have!

I was scheduled for my c-section at 10ish but Nickel, my parents, and dear friend Angie kept me entertained. Here I am pretending not to be scared out of my mind. Actually, Nickel said he was going to help the dr since they gave him that cool suit to wear but all he could find was a plastic spoon.

Baby B didn't like the nurses but stopped crying for daddy.
Peanut is obsessed with her baby brother. I'm not sure what that thing on her head is, something she made at VBS though. I was very thankful she wanted to go to VBS that week. It gave her something to do in the evenings

Happy to be holding my baby b on the outside!

38 hours later

Well, I'm sure you expected a birth announcement right away. I expected to write one, however this kid had other plans.

Wednesday morning Nickel and I arrived at the hospital shortly after 7 and by 9 I was on the magic labor making drugs. By 7 pm I had only dialated to a 2 so they turned the drugs off for the night.

Thursday morning we resumed the drugs with the promise of having my water broke around noon.

Thursday early afternoon water could not break, I was still only a 2 and c-section seemed like the best plan but we'd wait until 5 to decide with the magic drugs still pumping.

Thursday evening the magic drugs were turned off. I still was no more then a 2 and since I was so swollen, my blood pressure so high it was decided to take the baby by c-section.

Thursday night there was a baby trying to be born feet first and someone's apendix was about to explode so I was on the list for 10 pm.

Baby B was born at 10:34 pm weighing 8 lbs 11 oz and was 20.5 inches long.

We're both fine. Should be leaving the hospital tomorrow.

Pics coming soon.

End in sight

Went to the dr today. First thing he asked while walking in was if tomorrow was ok. I assured him it was and he made the arrangements. I'm allergic to being pregnant, lol, ok, maybe not, but my body doesn't really like it. I'm puffy from my thighs to my toes, my blood pressure is high (but comes down when I lay on my left side which is a good thing), and other symptoms so since I'm 39 weeks (just 7 days from my due date) we're going to try to coax this little boy out starting in the morning. Hopefully he'll be easier to talk out then his sister was. She took 18 hours to convince and I'm not sure she's ever really been convinced.

Peanut is very excited. She gone to stay the night with a friend of mine so we don't have to wake her up early. Daddy is trying to get everything squared away at work so he can take some time off. Mom is in bed, resting, and thanking God the baby's almost here!

I'll post pics and updates when I can.

It's a Love/Hate thing these days

36 weeks 5 days

I love knowing that in just a few weeks I'm going to have a brand new baby. I love folding his tiny little clothes fresh from the dryer. I love when Peanut reads to my stomach and it moves around for her. I love when people call me and ask how the baby's doing today knowing he's still a chillin in the belly. I love it that people are generally nicer to me and hold doors open for me and let me skip ahead in line for the bathroom. I love the fact that I'm going to get a 6 week vacation from work and that my parents will spend 1 of those weeks with me. I love packing my bag to get ready to go to the hospital. I love working part time and knowing I'll get to remain part time after I go back to work in Septmeber (unless he comes a little early then it'll be the end of August). I love the thought of being a mom to another person and feeling like my family is complete.

But right now. Right this second, I hate having to get up every hour of the night to pee. I hate the pressure I feel on my bladder as I try to walk. I hate that I can't just roll over in bed. I hate that I'm never comfortable. I hate that my belly hangs down so low and sometimes touches the toilet seat. I hate that the lowest part of my belly hurts to touch. I hate that most of my maternity clothes don't fit right. I hate that I can't always control my emotions and hormones. I hate that I don't feel like going fishing with Peanut and Nickel or playing basketball with them. I hate that I can't sit down at a resturant and pig out. I hate that I've burped more in the last 8 months then I ever have in my life. I hate that I'm not yet 37 weeks and praying for the torture to end because it makes me feel selfish. I hate swollen feet. I hate backaches. I hate heartburn. I hate that I'm going to miss my MIL's wedding because it's out of town. I hate that my house isn't as clean as I'd like it but I don't have the energy to clean it and even if I did I couldn't bend down to pick anything up. I hate that my hips hurt if I sleep more then an hour on them. I hate that I can't sleep on my back or my stomach. I hate the waddle. I hate that I have so much trouble getting in and out of a vehicle. I hate that I'm so dang negative right now!

I could probably go on but I'll stop there...

36 weeks and 2 days

Last week I cried. Working part time is wonderful and horrible all at the same time. I like the few hours and still getting a pay check. I hate waking up and going to work and dealing with people. But I guess this is true for any job.

So at 1:00 I clocked out and walked out to my car. I opened the door and attempted to get in. But I couldn't. Why? You ask. Well, I simply could NOT lift my right foot high enough and extend it into my car. I tried again, same results. I became frustrated and tears started welling up. Yeah, hormones can hit you at any time because not on a hormonal high I wouldn't have cried over that!

Finally, after thinking about this for a little bit I turned around, lifted my foot the other direction and BACKED into my car. I'm sure this is quite a sight to see and no, there will be no pictures of this. This kid better come soon, that's all I'm sayin.

Peanut on Being Mad

Into my room stomped the 8 year Peanut with a stern look on her face.

Me: What's wrong?
Peanut: I'm mad.
Me: Why are you mad?
Peanut points to the living room: Him!
Me: Well, do you understand why he said what he said?
Penut: I don't know.
Me: Well, what did he say?
Peanut: I don't know!
Me: You don't know what he said but you're mad?
Peanut looks at me and stomps back out of my room.

A few minutes go by and she walks into my room and points at my computer: Can I play?
Me: Sure in just a few minutes I'd like to finish what I'm doing.
Peanut falls to the floor in dramatic heap and whines: Gosh! I haven't got to play ALL day!
Me: I understand you want to play and I didn't have a problem with it, but you have to wait your turn.
Peanut stomps back out of my room. She's probably mad at me now too. Think she'll remember why in 5 minutes?

Watching and waiting

Nickel and I were laying in bed tonight. He was watching TV and I was surfing the web on my laptop. The baby started wiggling so Nickel and I turned our attention to him. We watched as a buldge (from the position it was probably his butt) moved from one side of my belly button (which is still an innie for now) to the other and back again. Just over 5 weeks until the due date. We watch. We wait.

Mountain of baby stuff

(I've tried to fix the size of these pics... this is the best I can do)

Ok, AJ, I know you've been wanting some pics. I had some friends come see this last weekend from out of state. They brought a MOUNTAIN of baby stuff with them.

Before Peanut tore off all the wrapping paper...

After Peanut tore off all the wrapping paper!

Oh, and my big belly there too... lol

Being Pregnant Means Forgetting Stuff

I'm expecting some company this coming weekend so since I had the day off today I tried my best to pick things up around the house and straighten up just a bit. Don't worry, I didn't "over do it" my body keeps me from over doing anything these days. But I did manage to find some things... like the Mother's Day Cards I bought to mail out this year. Oops... I guess that's why they call it Momnesia... that's what they call it right? Sounds right, I could be wrong. What was I talking about? I don't remember.

I can't help it, I'm pregnant!

Um... there's no real rhyme or reason to this post, just what's in my head at the moment...

• Sorry I've been whiny lately. In my defense I'm pregnant, hormonal, and sleep deprived because this boy thinks my bladder is his pillow and insist on fluffing it ever hour or so. I really do appreciate my friends and family.

• In other news my friends Angie and Jaci took me out to eat since they were not able to make it to the shower. Angie had been out of town until that day and had had a headache. Jaci had planned on coming but wasn't sure where it was at and couldn't get Angie to answer the phone! LOL! The three of us had been talking of getting together without kids for lunch or dinner for some time so this was a perfect excuse! We had a great time talking about the kids, summer plans, and everything else under the sun! It was a blast, we sat and talked for an hour and a half and could've gone on twice as long, but we'll save it for another day. They gave me some very thoughtful gifts, but the one that mattered the most was the gift of friendship.

• Several weeks ago I mentioned to Nickel that I wanted to go home this weekend, or at least part of this weekend because my mom's family gets together to do the cemetery decorating thing and then picnic in SpeedTrap City. It's the one time each year all my aunts and uncles get together, and sometimes a few of my cousins show up. But then the subject was dropped. Then last week Nickel talked to his brother in Tulsa who is having a gathering of old friends that Nickel has seen in years. He mentioned wanting to see them. But again the subject was dropped until the other day I had an epiphany! One of my aunts live in Tulsa and I could ask her to give me a ride to the family gathering and Nickel could hang out with his brother and friends. (I should note that while I'm not on any driving restrictions from my doctor I don't really want to make long drives by myself at this stage of the game just in case something should happen.) I made the call and sure enough the details fell right into place so I'm really excited to see my family even if it's just for part of the day!

Fun at the Dr Office

So yesterday I had my 29 week check up. Everytime I go to the doctor I have to fill out this purple paper as to why I'm there. Most of the time I just kinda sorta fill it out because I'm OB and not really there because I'm sick. Yesterday I decided to have some fun. About half-way on the page there is a word bank where you can circle your symptoms. I circled about 10 of them. They all applied.

• Frequent Urniation
• Belly Pain
• Trouble Sleeping
• Weight Gain
• Tiredness
• Hearburn
• Headache

Those are just a few of the things I circled. I handed the paperwork back to the lady at the front desk, smiled and took my seat. Later when the doctor came in the room he shook his head and said he has some patients he limits to just three symptoms on any given visit. I looked at him as innocently as I could and said, "But they all applied". Then I burst out laughing because the look on his face was funny. He wrote in really big letters over the word bank "OB".

I think he needs a seperate form for the OB patients because that word bank was just too much fun!

94 days

...until my due date. I'm not really counting down, one of the baby websites I go to has a little counter for me and I looked at it yesterday.

I feel good, or as good as one feels with a growing belly and a little person on the inside kicking and punching all day long. I'm starting to get a little short of breath with my organs pushing up around my lungs, but it's not too bad, yet.

I went to the doctor last week for my 26 week check up. My blood pressure was high but came down when I laid on my left side. Seems my poor little kidneys are getting squished but I can help them out by laying down on my left side. God foresaw this problem and that's why my hours were reduced at work. I feel best in the mornings so off to work I go and around the time I start feeling tired my 5 hours are up and I'm heading home where I curl up in bed and watch tv until Peanut gets home from school (and sometimes until Nickel comes home). She's loving being able to walk home from school, but I go pick her up if it's raining, that's what moms do, right?

My parents came for a visit last weekend. They brought the baby crib with them. The crib originally was my cousin Kacy's. She's almost 17 now. When my oldest niece was born they gave (sold?) the crib to my parents and every grandkid has spent some time in it, but with 5 grandkids already in a three bedroom house there's just not enough room to put it up for the half dozen times we visit a year so they brought the crib to me. My daddy was nice enough to put up a new door on Peanut's room. It had been ripped down by an angry three year old about 5 years ago and never replaced. They did other odd projects around the house for me. You see, the house is my territory and the outside is Nickel's. If there's a car problem, he'll fix it. If the grass needs mowed and pinecones picked up, he'll do it. If the blinds need replaced in the kitchen... well, that falls under my territory and it just wasn't something I could with this ever growing belly. I think my daddy really enjoyed helping out his little girl. I told Nickel we'll be the ones helping Peanut out someday, after she moves out!

My mom and I also managed to squeeze in some shopping. She helped me start a registry at Walmart since I couldn't convince Nickel to spend that much time in WallyWorld. A friend had alerted me to a sale they were having, lots of baby clothes marked down to just $1! I think we picked up 20 or so pieces in different sizes. Even if Baby Boy doesn't wear everything a dozen times they were only a dollar!

This weekend I plan on being lazy. Oh, I might do a couple of loads of laundry just because I only have so many days worth of maternity clothes, but I don't plan on going overboard on the house work. Peanut is trying to get on my good side so she can use the computer so she's picking up the living room as I type! Being pregnant has it's advantages!

Defending Momma

At night, Nickel and I like to kid around and act like we're fighting and tease about who kicks the most and snores the loudest. Well, tonight he was talkin some smack so I grabbed his hand and put it on my belly and told Mr Man (I'm trying out nicknames so bare with me until I come up with just the right one) to kick his daddy. Like a good boy he did just as he was told! Nickel said he just barely felt it, but my whole stomach moved so I'm starting to wonder about his sense of touch.

Peanut never kicked her daddy. Never, ever. Well, at least not while I was pregnant. All those long months I got kicked in the bladder and ribs and he never felt her move, he might have seen her move once or twice towards the end, but everytime he entered the room she'd calm down, he'd put his hand on my belly at night, she'd go to sleep. I even tried putting my belly up to his back at night and she wouldn't kick him! Such a daddy's girl. But my boy, now he loves his momma and ain't no one, not even daddy gonna get away with talkin smack about his momma!

Peanut on turning 8

So Saturday morning I'm standing in my mother's bathroom drying Peanut's hair. She looks at my belly and says without missing a beat:

"Daniel, this is your sister, Peanut. I'm eight years old. And I'm prettier then you!"

Half-Way

I have finally reached the halfway mark! Here's just a little update on our progress

Morning sickness- gone

Tiredness- still here, but I am finally able to stay awake until 9 pm again!

Belly- Getting bigger, but not too fast

Baby- Kickin around and giving the nurses a hard time

Peanut- Happy and mostly waiting patiently

Daddy- Still alive!

LOL

My job is good. There's things I don't like that are beyond my control so I try not to dwell on them. Instead I focus on the positives. Last week they came to me and told me that on March 17th I will be part-time instead of full time. The package they gave me was very generous and I jumped on it. I will only be working 5 hours a day, have time to watch my soaps and pick Peanut up from school. Life is good.

Hope yours is too!

We're having a baby

A baby boy.

His name is Daniel and his sister is super excited!!! Of course his parents are too!

Count down

The ultrasound is in just two weeks! I can't wait! I'm not one of those wait and see kind of people. I want to know what I'm having NOW! I'll keep you updated.